The junior was a beast the moment he stepped onto the field as a freshman two seasons ago. He ran for 1,385 yards and 17 TDs, drawing comparisons to Bulldog great Herschel Walker. Year 2 was a different story. An ankle injury forced him out of three full games, but he still managed 989 yards, 6.0 yards per carry and 10 TDs. When 100 percent, there’s not a more devastating runner in the game. He has the size to run through defenders and speed to outrun them.

Consider what the Crimson Tide’s three best backs from the past five seasons — they’re all in the NFL — accomplished in their first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. Mark Ingram ran for 2,386 yards and 29 TDs and won the Heisman as a sophomore; Trent Richardson gained 1,451 yards with 14 TDs; and Eddie Lacy ran for 1,080 yards and 13 scores. Yeldon is the first true freshman to top 1,000 yards for Alabama and has 2,343 yards in his first two seasons with 26 TDs. Impressive. He’s fast and shifty and should stay fresh in 2014 with Derrick Henry stepping into a prominent role in the backfield.

As a sophomore, Gordon ran just 62 times, but averaged 10.0 yards per carry. Last season he took on a larger role and didn’t disappoint — he gained 1,609 yards last season, averaging 7.8 yards per carry with 12 TDs. He had eight 100-yard games and only carried the ball 20-plus times twice. He’s a big play waiting to happen when he gets his hands on the ball.

As a freshman, Abdullah emerged as one of the nation’s top kick returners. As a sophomore he showed his versatility with 1,137 rushing yards, 24 receptions and a punt return for a TD. Then there was 2013. Abdullah became the workhorse in the backfield, running for 1,690 yards, nine TDs while adding 26 receptions for 232 yards and two scores. He could have gone to the NFL, but decided to return and if he improves again, he’ll emerge as a Heisman candidate early in the season.

At 5-9, 215, Davis can pound the ball in short-yardage situations but also has the speed to break it for a long gain. Davis ran for 1,183 yards and 11 TDs last season and was second on the team with 34 receptions for another 352 yards. With QB Connor Shaw gone and Dylan Thompson stepping in to run the offense, look for Steve Spurrier to lean on Davis early and often in the rugged SEC.

Langford arrived in East Lansing as an under-the-radar recruit. A 3-star prospect, he held few big-school offers when he committed to the Spartans. A track standout, it wasn’t even a given that he would end up at running back. He played cornerback in limited time as a redshirt freshman, switched to offense his sophomore year and ran nine times for 23 yards. But last season Langford found his groove, running 292 times for 1,422 yards, 18 TDs and another 28 receptions. He topped 100 yards eight consecutive games, including a 128-yard performance in the Big Ten title game victory against Ohio State.

Williams built on a solid freshman season (775 yards, 12 TDs) with an even better sophomore one (1,233 yards, seven TDs). With QB Taysom Hill running the offense, the Cougars had the 10th-best rushing offense in the nation with 267.3 yards per game. Hill is back — and a big-time running threat — and that’s a good thing for Williams. Teams will have to focus on Hill, a darkhorse Heisman candidate, which should open up more opportunities for Williams in 2014.

So this is what Baylor does. It picks up the No. 41 player — listed primarily as an athlete — on the list of top state of Texas players, according to 247Sports.com, and plays him at running back despite having a Heisman-caliber player of its own at the position in Lache Seastrunk. With Seastrunk battling a minor injury or two (and still running for 1,177 yards), Linwood picks up the slack and gains 881 yards and scores eight TDs. With Seastrunk off to the NFL, look for Linwood to figure more prominently in what was the nation’s top offense in 2013.

The Ducks had so many weapons last season — QB Marcus Mariota, RB De’Anthony Thomas, WR Josh Huff — and Marshall stepped right into that group. He led the Ducks with 1,038 rushing yards and 14 TDs. Mariota returns in 2014 and Oregon will again be one of the nation’s elite offense. RB Thomas Tyner should also build off his solid freshman season. But Marshall proved his value in 2013 and should see the majority of touches.

Johnson had worked his way into the Heisman discussion at one point last season when the Hurricanes were off to a quick start. But his season ended at eight games because of a broken ankle. He still managed 920 rushing yards and six scores. He had several big games — 186 yards vs. FAU, 184 vs. Georgia Tech and 168 vs. Wake Forest — but needs more consistency. He’s a load and is the key to Miami’s success — the Canes lost three of five without him in the lineup.

One glance at Williams’ statistics and there’s something missing: rushing numbers. Williams played safety his first two seasons in Tallahassee but moved to running back — he played there in high school — prior to the Seminoles’ championship season in 2013. The result was a huge success. He carried the ball 91 times for 730 yards (8.0 yards per carry) and 11 TDs. At 6-2, 230, he has the size to knock you on your backside and the speed to run past defenders. With Devonta Freeman and James Wilder off to the NFL, it made sense for Williams to return with the chance to be FSU’s featured back.

It’s possible that Brown could be replaced here by teammate Johnathan Gray. Very possible. Gray is a more explosive back and was on pace to top 1,000 yards last season before tearing his Achilles. He’ll miss spring practice and his status for the fall is optimistic, but not completely known. That leaves Brown in the driver's seat and Charlie Strong is going to want to run the ball and run it well. Brown took over the lead back role last season and gained 904 yards and a team-best nine TDs. He’s also a strong receiver out of the backfield.

As a freshman in 2013, Collins saw his season begin with a bang. He topped 100 yards in each of his first three games — the first in SEC history to do so — and totaled 1,026 yards and four TDs. His production dropped off once the heart of the conference schedule hit — he failed to reach 100 yards in each of the Razorbacks’ final seven games. But don’t let that fool you. As Bret Bielema’s offense evolves, Collins will put up even bigger numbers.

We had to throw a wild card in and Henry gets the nod. One of the most prolific runners in high school history, Henry was an afterthought in the Alabama most of the season. He carried the ball 13 times for 85 yards in the first five games, then ran for 111 yards on six carries against Arkansas. He then ran nine times total against Tennessee and Chattanooga and didn’t log a carry vs. Auburn. But in the Sugar Bowl, he made most people wonder why he hadn’t touched the ball more often. He ran eight times for 100 yards with a 43-yard TD run and 61-yard TD reception against Oklahoma. Expect him to share carries with T.J. Yeldon. The duo should join past Tide tandems of Ingram-Richardson, Richardson-Lacy, Lacy-Yeldon as one of the best in the nation.

A name you might not be familiar with, Ajayi is the third-best returning rusher in 2014. He gained 1,425 yards and scored 18 times last season for the Broncos. He averaged 5.7 yards per rush and added 22 receptions for 222 yards. He topped 100 yards six times in 2013 and had at least 90 in three more games. With Chris Petersen no longer running the show at Boise, there would be cause for concern for the Broncos’ offense, but expect Ajayi to continue being the backbone of the offense with former Petersen assistant Bryan Harsin stepping in as head coach.

Kelvin Taylor, Florida: The son of former Gators and NFL great Fred Taylor was a bright spot in a dismal season for UF. His 96-yard, two-TD performance against South Carolina was promising.

Leonard Fournette, Terrance Magee, Kenny Hilliard, LSU: Fournette was the nation’s top recruit in the 2014 class. With Jeremy Hill and Alfred Blue off to the NFL, more carries are to be had, Fournette will certainly see some and has the potential to be one of the SEC’s next great backs.

Ezekiel Elliott, Dontre Wilson, Ohio State: Carlos Hyde and his 1,521 yards are gone. With Braxton Miller back at QB, the Buckeyes figure to gain plenty on the ground. Elliott and Wilson bring different skill sets to the table, but both bring potential big plays.

Thomas Tyner, Oregon: Tyner will see plenty of touches alongside Byron Marshall. If he progresses from a stellar freshman season, it’s conceivable he becomes the Ducks’ go-to player out of the backfield.

Tevin Coleman, Indiana: He averaged 7.3 yards per carry, gained 958 yards, and scored 12 TDs. He did it all and is the key to the Hoosiers inching up the Big Ten ladder.

Travis Greene, Bowling Green: He had one carry entering last season and finished with 1,594 yards and 11 TDs.